Obama: 1 agency would provide primary voice on food safety standardsFood Quality NewsPresident Barack Obama has proposed a single food safety agency as part of budget plans submitted to Congress. His proposal would consolidate USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service and the food safety component of the FDA into one agency, housed within the Department of Health and Human Services.

With shot at produce, school lunch battle resumesPolitico Pro (subscriber story)It's not yet clear what exactly Republicans have in mind as they look to re-write the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act this year, but here's a safe bet: Produce will be at the center of the coming fight.

Keeping ingredients on ice preserves vitamins and minerals, experts sayThe Daily MailSainsbury's is trying to change frozen food's battered reputation. The Love Your Freezer campaign is aimed at promoting its benefits while also broadening what's on offer. Frozen herbs, chargrilled vegetables, berries and scallops now jostle for space with the Neapolitan ice cream. The campaign has the support of Brian Young, chief executive of the British Frozen Food Federation.

The GOP elite puts its foot downPolitico MagazineShots have been fired. The GOP herd is beginning to be culled. In less than a week, the establishment hounded Mitt Romney out, and the conservative movement wrote Sarah Palin out. The message from Republican insiders is clear: We cannot let our primary become another clown show.

Poll: Clinton leads in 3 swing statesPoliticoA new swing-state poll shows Hillary Clinton continuing to lead her potential 2016 GOP rivals — but the margins are narrowing in certain key states and against certain candidates.

Obama budget sets off push for dealsThe Wall Street JournalPresident Barack Obama called for sweeping tax increases Monday in a budget proposal that dropped any quest for fiscal grand bargains with Congress, but also laid out narrower domestic priorities that may appeal to Republicans.

Avoiding labeling-related lawsuits in 2015Baking & SnackDuring the past few months numerous news stories have focused on flavor forecasts and consumer trends that may shape the food business in 2015. There is something else to consider: how various lawsuits from the past year may affect the claims food marketers may make.

AMS issues final rule on country of origin labelingUSDA Agricultural Marketing ServiceUSDA's Agricultural Marketing Service is informing inspection personnel of its country of origin labeling final rule. However, because these regulations only have application at retail, FSIS IPP will not be taking any action on enforcement of these rules other than to notify their supervisor if they have concerns.

The Chipotle effect: Why America is obsessed with fast casual foodThe Washington PostThe market for fast casual food has grown by 550 percent since 1999, more than 10 times the growth seen in the fast food industry over the same period, according to data from market research firm Euromonitor. Chipotle has seen its sales more than quadruple during that time; Panera has watched its sales more than triple. And Shake Shack has done so well that it just went public despite operating only 36 outlets.

Growth opportunities for stagnating private labeljust-food (subscriber story)Private label is now a mature market — one that has grown quickly over recent years to a position of some strength in the European FMCG industry. A force to be reckoned with, traditionally private label has helped consumers reduce their weekly shopping bills and provide retailers with an extra opportunity to boost sales and grow margin.

Smithfield Foods executive Bo Manly retiresThe Virginian-PilotSmithfield Foods Inc. announced Monday that one of its top executives, Robert W. "Bo" Manly IV, retired Friday. Manly had worked for Smithfield or its affiliated companies since 1986.

Mycotoxins: A food safety crisisFood Safety MagazineWhile about 1 billion people in this world are starving, unimaginable amounts of food are unsuitable for consumption because of molds that produce toxins, such as aflatoxin.